The well-known and very reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo posted a small thread on Twitter in which he details why the rumors announcing the replacement of the next iPad mini by a folding iPad are probably false.
The year 2022 has been rich in releases for Apple’s tablets. In April, the firm launched its 5e generation of iPad Air, then, in the fall, two new iPad Pro (11-inch and 12.9-inch) and an iPad 10e generation. Several analysts now expect the Apple brand to replace its iPad mini range with a folding tablet.
A new iPad mini is expected
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, it will not. After launching a completely redesigned version of its iPad mini in 2021, the Cupertino company should continue its momentum. The analyst expects a new iPad mini, ” whose main selling point will be to be equipped with a new processor “, either marketed at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024. He specifies that Apple is currently working on the development of this device.
But then, what about the many rumors announcing the replacement of the iPad mini by a folding tablet? It would indeed be a way for the company to get used to the technology before possibly deploying it on a smartphone. Samsung has also predicted that such a device would be launched by Apple in 2024. Ming-Chi Kuo corroborated the Korean giant in April, but today assures that this prediction must be ” revised “.
A folding iPad for 2025?
” I think Apple is unlikely to replace the iPad mini with a folding iPad in 2025, which may be contrary to what some media previously predicted. “, writes the specialist. He invokes the economic argument to justify this: This is because a folding iPad will have a significantly higher price than an iPad mini, so such a replacement is not reasonable. »
The release of a folding iPad with no other alternative could indeed affect users’ purchasing decisions, as its price would be high (at $2,500 so as not to cannibalize iPhone sales, according to estimates). However, these statements by Kuo do not in any way mean that Apple will not release a folding tablet. The analyst still believes that will be the case in 2025, but that the device will coexist with the next iPad mini.
Another specialist, Ben Wood, agrees with Ming-Chi Kuo. If these predictions turn out to be correct, it is very likely that eventually, when the technology is optimized, Apple will take a different turn.
Sources: Ming-Chi Kuo via Twitter, Wccftech, 9to5Mac
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